Cookware may release some inorganic components into foods during cooking. Migration of ions could be of nutritional interest provided they do not pose a toxic hazard or are released in excess of the recommended amounts. In the present study the migration of Fe, Mg, Mn, Cr, Ni, Ca, Zn, Pb, Cd and Hg from stainless steel (304), cast iron (GG-10) and soapstone (steatite) commercial cooking pans was evaluated in 15 sequential operations using lactic and acetic acids as food simulants. The migration patterns were also studied along five cycles of storage at 22ºC. Regression analysis of the data showed that while ions migrated out of the stainless steel pans in a rapidly decreasing fashion, the rate of migration from the stone utensils exhibited a slow and gradual decrease, in contrast with the increasing tendency observed for Fe and Mn in the cast iron pans. In no case was the release of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium or mercury observed.
Cooking utensils; mineral nutrition; lactic acid; acetic acid
